Volume-dependent automatic gain control

Abstract

A computer-implemented method to generate an audio output signal is disclosed. The method may include receiving an audio input signal at an automatic gain control (AGC) unit. The method may further include receiving a volume setting indicator signal at the AGC unit. Further, the method may include setting one or more operational parameters for the AGC unit based on the volume setting indicator signal. In addition, the method may include applying a gain to the audio input signal based on the one or more operational parameters to generate an audio output signal at a desired output level.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A device, comprising:
 an audio transceiver including: 
 an automatic gain control (AGC) unit configured to:
 receive an audio input signal; 
 receive a volume setting indicator signal that corresponds to a user-defined volume setting that is configured to be dynamically adjusted by a user; 
 set one or more operational parameters, including a maximum gain parameter that is determined based on the volume setting indicator signal, the maximum gain parameter defining a maximum amount of gain to be applied to the audio input signal during a particular period of time; and 
 apply a gain a plurality of times to the audio input signal to generate an audio output signal, the gain being equal to the maximum gain parameter and each application of the gain being separated by at least the particular period of time. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more operational parameters further includes a maximum amplification parameter defining a total maximum amplification to be applied to the audio input signal. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the AGC unit is further configured to set one or more other operational parameters based on a source of the audio input signal. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more other operational parameters comprise at least one of: an aggressiveness of one or more filters of the AGC unit, a noise threshold value for the AGC unit, and a default gain for the AGC unit. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the gain is applied the plurality of times such that a target gain is applied to the audio output signal, the target gain being greater than the maximum gain parameter and being determined based on the volume setting indicator signal that corresponds to the user-defined volume setting. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 5 , wherein the gain is applied the plurality of times to generate the audio output signal at a particular output level and the device further comprises a volume control unit configured to receive the audio output signal from the AGC unit and to adjust a volume of the audio output signal as determined by the volume setting indicator signal such that the particular output level of the audio output signal as received by the volume control unit is changed. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the audio transceiver further comprises:
 a first processing unit coupled to an input of the AGC unit and configured to process the audio input signal; and 
 a second processing unit coupled to an output of the AGC and configured to process the audio output signal. 
 
     
     
       8. A computer-implemented method to generate an output signal, the method comprising:
 receiving an audio input signal at an automatic gain control (AGC) unit; 
 receiving a volume setting indicator signal that corresponds to a user-defined volume setting that is configured to be dynamically adjusted by a user; 
 setting one or more operational parameters for the AGC unit based on the volume setting indicator signal, the setting one or more operational parameters comprising setting a maximum gain parameter based on the volume setting indicator signal, the maximum gain parameter defining a maximum amount of gain to be applied to the audio input signal during a particular period of time; and 
 applying, by the AGC unit, a gain a plurality of times to the audio input signal to generate an audio output signal, the gain being equal to the maximum gain parameter and each application of the gain being separated by at least the particular period of time. 
 
     
     
       9. The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein setting one or more operational parameters further comprises setting a maximum amplification parameter defining a total maximum amplification to be applied to the audio input signal. 
     
     
       10. The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein the gain is applied the plurality of times to generate the audio output signal at a particular output level and the method further comprises further adjusting a volume of the audio output signal as indicated by the volume setting indicator signal to further change the particular output level of the audio output signal. 
     
     
       11. The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , further comprising setting one or more other operational parameters based on a source of the audio input signal, wherein setting one or more other operational parameters comprises at least one of: setting an aggressiveness of one or more filters of the AGC unit, setting a noise threshold value for the AGC unit, and setting a default gain for the AGC unit. 
     
     
       12. The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein the gain is applied the plurality of times such that a target gain is applied to the audio output signal, the target gain being greater than the maximum gain parameter and being determined based on the volume setting indicator signal that corresponds to the user-defined volume setting. 
     
     
       13. The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the AGC unit, an updated volume setting indicator signal; and 
 modifying at least one operational parameter of the one or more operational parameters based on the updated volume setting indicator signal. 
 
     
     
       14. At least one non-transitory computer readable media configured to store one or more instructions that when executed by at least one computing system performs the method of  claim 8 . 
     
     
       15. A system to generate an output signal, the system comprising:
 a processing system configured to:
 receive an audio input signal; 
 receive a volume setting indicator signal that corresponds to a user-defined volume setting that is configured to be dynamically adjusted by a user; 
 set one or more operational parameters, including a maximum gain parameter that is determined based on the volume setting indicator signal, the maximum gain parameter defining a maximum amount of gain to be applied to the audio input signal during a particular period of time; and 
 apply a gain a plurality of times to the audio input signal to generate an audio output signal, the gain being equal to the maximum gain parameter and each application of the gain being separated by at least the particular period of time. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more operational parameters further comprises a maximum amplification parameter defining a total maximum amplification to be applied to the audio input signal. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the processing system is further configured to set one or more other operational parameters based on a source of the audio input signal. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of times is a first plurality of times and the processing system is further configured to:
 in response to a change in the volume setting indicator signal, apply the gain a second plurality of times to the audio input signal to generate the audio output signal, the first plurality of times being a different number than the second plurality of times. 
 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the gain is applied the plurality of times such that a target gain is applied to the audio output signal, the target gain being greater than the maximum gain parameter and being determined based on the volume setting indicator signal that corresponds to the user-defined volume setting. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the gain is applied the plurality of times to generate the audio output signal at a particular output level and the processing system is further configured to further adjust a volume of the audio output signal as indicated by the volume setting indicator signal to further change the particular output level of the audio output signal.